Relational Jiu Jitsu is all about sliding underneath the surface of a poorly delivered bid for connection to capture what’s most meaningful in the bid. Rather than fighting fire with fire, this is all about seeing the punches and maneuvering gracefully to the side of them.
We can either turn toward, turn way, or turn against. Our relationship future rests predominantly on which of these 3 doors we walk through and how often we choose to walk through them.
Ultimately, raising a child effectively often means putting ourselves aside. We have to do our best to consistently present as our best versions of ourselves as individuals and as partners so that our child has his/her best chance of developing in the healthiest ways. Every moment matters and your child is always watching and absorbing information, even when you might feel s/he is not.
Shame is one unfortunate feeling that often appears in couples with a low desire partner. The low desire partner can often suffer from feeling as though there is something terribly wrong with him/her. This partner might incorrectly believe that this lack of sexual interest must mean s/he does not like, love, and/or respect his/her partner anymore.
Also, part of your value and source of happiness may be missing without sex. Perhaps, as a man or woman, it used to bring you tremendous joy to sexually please your partner, and now that that is missing, you are, to some extent, less joyful, satisfied, and happy. For men, in particular, this can be even more potently painful, as their value is often linked to pleasing their partner sexually. So, with that out of the equation, it can further add to pain linked to a perceived lack of masculinity/manhood and worth.
In this country in particular, another message that often bombards us all from birth is the idea that our negative emotions are bad. Not only is this incredibly untrue, but when we believe this, it directly contributes to procrastination. If we aren’t supposed to feel distressed, worried, fearful, overwhelmed, guilty, shameful, irritated, and dread, just to name a few common ones related to procrastination, then it will be quite the challenge to begin working on a task where some or all these emotions burst up to the surface.
In this country in particular, another message that often bombards us all from birth is the idea that our negative emotions are bad. Not only is this incredibly untrue, but when we believe this, it directly contributes to procrastination. If we aren’t supposed to feel distressed, worried, fearful, overwhelmed, guilty, shameful, irritated, and dread, just to name a few common ones related to procrastination, then it will be quite the challenge to begin working on a task where some or all these emotions burst up to the surface.
Another one of the most critical and common contributors to an anxiety condition is growing up in an environment that exposes one to it in a significant way. Significant can take the form of one or several events that affected you strongly and/or a continuous and consistent exposure to anxious conditions. For instance, perhaps you regularly witnessed mom or dad express specific fears and worries about a variety of topics. When you consider these ways in which you can develop anxiety conditions and struggles, one of the key takeaways is it is not your fault.
Communication is the foundation of any successful relationship, and when one partner is struggling with their mental health, it’s important to address it together. If you suspect that your partner could benefit from seeking professional help, it’s essential to approach the conversation with empathy and understanding.
One of the key benefits of marriage counseling for already healthy relationships is that it provides a safe space for couples to discuss their concerns. Sometimes, couples may have difficulty effectively communicating their needs and desires to each other.
A licensed therapist can help you and your partner develop healthier communication strategies, gain a deeper understanding of each other’s needs and emotions, and work towards a more fulfilling and productive relationship.
It’s no secret that many people go through their lives feeling unfulfilled. Often, they don’t even realize it until it’s too late. They go through the motions day after day, year after year, never stopping to question whether or not they’re truly happy.
It’s a common scenario: one partner wants to go to couples’ therapy and the other refuses. It can be a frustrating and confusing situation. So,
It can sometimes be unclear whether something is a healthy versus unhealthy coping mechanism for stress. For instance, is distracting oneself from a stressful and
We are taught that stress is a bad thing, something we must avoid at all costs. We are bombarded with messages like, “Stress causes Cancer”,
When the COVID-19 pandemic began a handful of years ago, so much of the world had to adapt quickly. One of those adaptations was the
For many, if not all of us, we both look forward to and dread the holidays. They are both a lovely and much-needed break from
The reality is, the only people with whom we are responsible for is ourselves. Furthermore, we cannot change anyone other than ourselves.
If you find yourself in a relationship teetering on the edge of constant conflict and uncertainty, there is a path to reclaiming the love and happiness you once shared.
Do you and your partner constantly feel tense, stressed out, and irritated with one another? Maybe you feel as though you, your partner, or both of you are constantly picking on each other for every little thing. Does it feel like you two are always fighting, often about the same things? You’re in crisis mode and you likely feel incredibly stuck, frustrated, and exhausted.
Experiencing anger is a human and crucial emotion. As men, we have to ensure we express it, however, in healthy ways as often as possible, especially in heterosexual relationships.
When we get preoccupied with anxiety, fear, and dread about an upcoming flight, and we try to plan for all the “what if” scenarios, we use our cerebral cortex. Here, we are trying our best to resolve our anxiety and fear. The problem is it has no chance of working. The reason is twofold.
The reality is, through the right kind of infidelity therapy, not only can you heal from what you’ve endured and genuinely learn to trust your partner again, but you can also expect that the two of you will transform yourselves into new, better versions of yourselves. You can anticipate that, by the end of your infidelity therapy journey, you two will become a profoundly stronger relationship than you may have ever imagined.
Life and responsibilities got in the way and they feel disconnected from their partners and are unsure how to reconnect in a meaningful way. The good news—all of those men had hope, and if you’re reading this and are looking for a nudge in the right direction—there is hope for you too!
The 3 floors of the Sound Relationship House are the foundation for a healthy relationship. Here are those 3 ways you can strengthen your bond with your partner and finally stop feeling like you’re always fighting.
We often think intimacy means sex, when that’s only a part of it. Intimacy is about our closeness with our partner. If your relationship lacks
Modern professional men are very busy and have many responsibilities on their shoulders: providing for their families, paying bills, working, maintaining friendships, etc. With all
You just started dating someone. You’re tired of choosing someone who initially seems great and ends up hurting you worse than you could have ever
Do you worry that you and your partner have become more roommates than lovers? Does this make you feel sad and confused, as you can’t
It’s Monday—you’re up all night stewing on a project. Tuesday—your to-do list grows longer and longer no matter how hard you work. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Before you know it, that Sunday night anxiety is settling in again and the week has passed in a blur. Thus begins the story of many busy professionals as stress creeps in from every angle.
When your relationship is filled with turmoil, chaos, and pain for many months, it can be difficult to know if your relationship will last, and if online relationship therapy can help. Beyond that, what makes couples therapy successful? and will it work for you, too?
Being in a relationship is a lot of hard work, and you may have turned to an online couples therapist to help you get back on track. Still, you may be wondering how to make the most out of each session with a couples therapist. As a team offering online couples therapy in Oregon, Florida, and California we have some thoughts, so check them out!
When discussing depression, attention often focuses on our female friends, family members, and acquaintances who have been affected. In recent years, the women in our
You and your partner might be wondering, even worried, whether the relationship challenges you two are enduring are rare or common. Perhaps you find that
Mental health is a critical component of overall well-being, yet many men struggle to prioritize and seek help for their emotional and psychological needs, or
Lately, you find that your relationship is characterized by constant fights, often over the same few topics. What makes it worse is these same topics
You might think that doing the right, hard daily work is crucial to having a fulfilling and lasting romantic relationship. The reality is it’s about
When our emotions get too intense, one of our natural responses is to shut down. This can manifest as our avoiding making eye contact, not
Picking up the phone for the first call for online couples therapy You deserve tremendous credit. You’ve made that first call, or are planning to,
You feel like your world is turned upside down. The memories you have of yourself and your partner are all now called into question. The
Are you humble to the point of self-deprecation? Frequently find yourself feeling like the professional growth you’ve achieved is all a scam? If you find yourself feeling like you don’t belong in the career you have or frequently worrying you’re somehow not deserving of your success, this one’s for you.
Remote work options are a hot-button topic these days. With over 70% of people hoping to continue to find some flexibility in their workspace offerings, it’s time to get down to data in figuring out what those options really offer you.
If you’ve been through something painful, I’m sure you want to forget it. You may have run into obstacles in this process and the reason largely boils down to this: the brain remembers.
If you’ve been through something painful, I’m sure you want to forget it. You may have run into obstacles in this process and the reason largely boils down to this: the brain remembers.
If you’ve been continually fighting with your loved one, it might seem obvious why. Perhaps you attempt to repeatedly bring up your concerns about your partner and your relationship, but nothing changes. To understand why, and how to create real, lasting change, we have to go back in time to when we were children.
Are you humble to the point of self-deprecation? Frequently find yourself feeling like the professional growth you’ve achieved is all a scam? If you find yourself feeling like you don’t belong in the career you have or frequently worrying you’re somehow not deserving of your success, this one’s for you.
When you and your partner have been so distant, disconnected, and struggling for so long, it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. You so desperately want to have that close and satisfying relationship you either once had or know you can have if you only learned the right skills. In this blog, we’ll help you learn 2 easy to learn and implement skills to dramatically improve the quality of your relationship today.
You’re at a critical place in your life. You don’t know which decision to make. You believe you must choose correctly and the sooner the do it, the sooner you’ll feel relief from confusion, overwhelm, and fear. You know once you decide which path to take, you’ll feel clarity and confidence because you’ll know that you’re living a life that aligns with your values. In this blog, we’ll explore how to accomplish this goal.
Does stigma, stress, or a sense of personal responsibility keep you from reaching out to get the stress support you need? Have you tried things like prioritizing your schedule or meditation, but still left with an impending sense of doom about things going on at work or home? Here’s how to take the next step when your stress relief tips stop working.
If you find yourself frustrated by the dread that puts a damper on your Sunday night every week, you’re in the right place. Let’s talk all about the Sunday scaries and how you can put them to rest for good.
